What Is Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate?

Today’s Gold Standard in Regenerative Medicine?

Bone marrow aspirate concentrate procedure is a stem cell treatment using autologous bone marrow-derived cells. Autologous means the bone marrow comes from yourself.

Bone marrow is commonly taken from the pelvis but may be taken from other areas of the body. A needle is used to remove (aspirate) bone marrow from within the bone. This is typically done with local anesthetic at the site of the needle. Some patients may request / require sedation or general anesthesia, but many patients describe the procedure as relatively painless.

After the autologous bone marrow is harvested, it is typically spun in a centrifuge, which is a machine that spins very fast, to separate the cells. A liquid is produced which has a high concentration of stem cells. Your physician then injects these cells directly into the destination site using image guidance to pinpoint the exact location in need. This is a highly skilled procedure that requires a physician to have advanced training and knowledge in musculoskeletal injections and the use of ultrasound and fluoroscopy guidance.

These treatments can be costly, but can yield good results and pain reduction for patients who ensure they are receiving a procedure that uses current best practices from a skilled physician who is focusing on regenerative treatments for orthopedics and has the training and imaging equipment to deliver the cells to the exact spot to begin their work. These procedures should be accomplished by a doctor with M.D. or D.O. status. See our requirements to be listed on this site, which provides a list of best practices as confirmed by doctors who currently specialize in these procedures.

Why use bone marrow aspirate?

Bone marrow stem cells have the ability to replicate into a variety of tissue types. It is also autologous, which means you are donating cells to yourself (eliminating risks associated with the utilization of other sources). Of all stem cell treatments, Bone Marrow Aspirate is not only the most solid fit for meeting current FDA guidelines, but it has also been the most studied source of stem cells, with many published outcomes papers, and it has been shown to have minimal safety risks.

The concentration of regenerative cells provide concentrated healing to damaged tissues and support growth and repair by accelerating the body’s innate healing. This level of treatment is typically used for more serious injuries, such as complete and partial tears of muscle, tendons and ligaments, or pain related to arthritis or other degenerative conditions.

This treatment has been successful in relieving pain, reducing swelling, and enhanced healing, as well as helping individuals delay the need for joint replacement, without the need for invasive surgery.